Almost all arthroscopic knee surgery is done on an outpatient basis.

Arrival
Your hospital or surgery center will contact you with specific details about your appointment. You will likely be asked to arrive at the hospital an hour or two before your surgery. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.

Anesthesia
When you first arrive for surgery, a member of the anesthesia team will talk with you. Arthroscopy can be performed under local, regional, or general anesthesia.

• Local anesthesia numbs just your knee
• Regional anesthesia numbs you below your waist
• General anesthesia puts you to sleep

The anesthesiologist will help you decide which method would be best for you.

If you have local or regional anesthesia, you may be able to watch the procedure on a television monitor.

Procedure
The orthopaedic surgeon will make a few small incisions in your knee. A sterile solution will be used to fill the knee joint and rinse away any cloudy fluid. This helps your orthopaedic surgeon see your knee clearly and in great detail.

The surgeon’s first task is to properly diagnose your problem. He will insert the arthroscope and use the image projected on the screen to guide it. If surgical treatment is needed, your surgeon will insert tiny instruments such as a motorized shaver through another small incision.

This part of the procedure usually lasts 30 minutes to over an hour. How long it takes depends upon the findings and the treatment necessary.

Recovery from knee arthroscopy is much faster than recovery from traditional open knee surgery. Still, it is important to follow your orthopaedic surgeon’s instructions carefully after you return home. You should ask someone to check on you the first evening you are home.

Swelling
Keep your leg elevated as much as possible for the first few days after surgery. Apply ice as recommended by your doctor to relieve swelling and pain.

Dressing Care
You will leave the hospital with a dressing covering your knee. Keep your incisions clean and dry. Your surgeon will tell you when you can shower or bathe, and when you should change the dressing.

Your surgeon will see you in the outpatient clinic a few days after surgery to check your progress, review the surgical findings, and begin your postoperative treatment program.

Bearing Weight
Most patients need crutches or other assistance after arthroscopic surgery. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe to put weight on your foot and leg. If you have any questions about bearing weight, call your surgeon.

Driving
Your doctor will discuss with you when you may drive. This decision is based on a number of factors, including:

• The knee involved
• The nature of the procedure
• Your level of pain
• Whether you are using narcotic pain medications
• How well you can control your knee
• Whether you drive an automatic or manual vehicle

You should exercise your knee regularly for several weeks after surgery. This will restore motion and strengthen the muscles of your leg and knee.

Therapeutic exercise will play an important role in how well you recover. A formal physical therapy program may improve your final result.

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